JACKSON WON DESPITE UNDEFEATED PRESSURE

The pressure of an undefeated football season weighed heavily on the Jackson Indians during their game with Poplar Bluff Friday night.

When the final horn sounded and the Indians had won 33-19 -- completing the first 10-0 regular season at Jackson since 1935 -- the significance of the historic event probably hit Jackson coach Carl Gross the hardest.

With tears filling his eyes, Gross praised his players -- especially the 16 seniors that fill the Jackson roster with loads of winning experience. Needing a win to continue their perfect season, Gross said he felt a lot of pressure to win this one game for them.

"We were either going to be district and conference champions and playing on the next level or we were going to be 9-1 with no championship," said Gross. "That put a lot of pressure on us for our kids' sake because I'm going to have a few more years around here, I hope, but these seniors deserve this."

With so many outstanding seniors to choose from, Gross couldn't select just one who stood out Friday.

"Its the whole darn bunch and that's the way it been all year," said Gross. "It's not just one guy; it's been everybody."

Senior halfback Devree Flint -- having a remarkable season -- carried the ball 37 times for 209 yards and four scores. Making Flint's numbers even more remarkable is that his longest run of the night was only 26 yards.

With the score tied 13-13 at halftime, Gross turned to Flint more in the second half. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior carried the ball 22 times in the second half for 112 tough yards.

"Devree's a great back and I think our line -- all of us -- have really progressed and jelled together to become a great unit," said senior offensive tackle J.P. Hall. "Devree's just the icing on the cake as the best back in the area."

Hall, a two-year starter for the Indians, was excited to see the Indians hard work in the off-season paying off now with an undefeated season.

"All the work everybody put into the past year through wrestling season, basketball season, track season and in the weight room all summer ... it really paid off," Hall said. "It's a great feeling. You could never match this; there's nothing in the world."

Radio waves

How many radio stations does it take to cover a high school football team?

Well, if you live in Poplar Bluff, apparently it takes three.

The Mules had three different radio crews in -- and on top -- of Jackson's cramped press box during Friday's season finale against the Indians. Two stations broadcast the game live, while another tape-delayed its broadcast for Saturday.

Correction

Considering it happened 62 years ago, several Jackson fans have still not forgotten the last time the Indians went undefeated.

The football coach to last lead Jackson to a perfect regular-season was incorrectly identified in Friday's paper. It was Ryland Milner, who coached the Indians to a 10-0 mark in 1935.

Also the score of the Kirkwood-Mehlville football game was incorrect in Saturday's paper. Kirkwood (9-0), Jackson's next opponent, won 24-6 to claim the District 2 title.